Voltage-regulator mechanism



' June 26, 1923. 1,460,173 I F. H. PATTEN 4 VOLTAGE REGULATOR MECHAN ISM Filed Jan. 8, 1919 .9 5; 5 J Y A I III! I; I 7 f g 7 /2 F WITNESSES: INVENTOR [67% Francis hf Pmfefl m a m.

AT'TORNEY Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS PATTEN, OF EDGEWOOD PAR-K, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

VOLTAGE-REGULATOR MECHANISM.

Application filed January 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. PATTEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Voltage-Regulator Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to regulator mechanisms and particularly to means for improving the operation of the main contact members of voltage regulators.

One object of my invention is to provide a pair of contact members with means for 1 operating one of them in the plane of the surface of contact thereof in a manner that shall effect a cleaning and polishing action and, in case of sticking, to separate such members.

2 In many electrical devices, such as relays, and particularly in delicately adjusted apparatus, such as the main control magnets of voltage regulators, considerable trouble is often experienced on account of the sticking together of the contact members of the devices by reason of the arcing to which they are subjected. Thus, in voltage regulators, the arcing to which the main contact members are constantly subjected will, in

time, destroy the operativeness of the regulator unless provision is made for maintainin the contact members in good condition.

Ileretofore, contact members for regulators and relays have been provided with various means for moving them in a manner tending to prevent sticking or freezing by reason of the constant arcing to which they have been subjected. Thus, in many cases, auxiliary means, such as the camoperated device disclosed in the application of John B. Dyer, Serial No. 200,663, filed Nov. 7 1917, and assigned to the WVestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing (30., is provided, separate from the contact-operating means, for constantly operating the contact members in a manner to prevent them from sticking together and, in other cases, the contact members effect a wiping engagement with each other which tends to keep the con tact surfaces clean and in good condition.

The above methods for preventing the sticking together of the contact members have relatively narrow-limits. of operation when Serial No. 270,099.

applied to very delicately adjusted apparatus, such as voltage regulators. For example, a slight wear of the cam-operated contact-cleaning mechanism of a regulator device may change the relative positions of the mechanical and the magnetic parts of the regulator in such manner as to affect the electrical performance of the regulator.

In a relay or a regulator mechanism which is provided with a contact-cleaning mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, one of the contact members is given a movement of translation in the plane of the surface of contact between the members in such manner as to provide a maximum amount of contact wipe between the contact members without in any way interfering with the electrical operation of the regulator. Moreover, the contact-cleaning mechanism is so constructed that relatively small changes in the various parts caused by wear will, in no way, affect the electrical operation of the regulator.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a regulator system constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the control magnet shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional, elevational view along the line III-JII of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a generator 1, comprising an armature 2 and a shunt field-magnet winding 3, is provided for charging a storage battery 4: and for operating the ignition and lighting systems of an automobile (not shown) or for performing any similar function. The generator 1, which is preferably operated by the inter rial-combustion engine of an automobile, is provided with a voltage regulator 5 for varying the excitation of the field winding 3 in such manner as to maintain the generated voltage substantially constant.

The main control magnet of the regulator embodies two energizing coils 6, which are suitably connected in series with the resistor 7, constructed of advance wire, across the armature 2 so as to be energized directly in accordance with the generated voltage. The coils 6 are mounted upon a U-shaped magnetic frame 8, which, in turn, is suitably connected to a base plate 9 in any convenient manner.

Two main contact members 10 and 11 are provided for selectively short-circuiting a resistor 12, which is included in the circuit of the field winding 3.

Inasmuch as my invention chiefly relates to the means for preventing sticking or freezing of the contact members 10 and 11, the operation of the regulator system will be described only briefly. The contact members 10 and 11 are intermittently operated by the coils 6, according to the voltage generated and in such manner as to control the excitation of the machine 1 and the short circuiting of the resistor 12. Thus, in case the voltage, of the generator 1 falls below a predetermined value, the excitation of the coils 6 is reduced to short-circuit the resistor 12 and, accordingly, increase the excitation of the generator. Upon the raising of the generator voltage above a predetermmed value, the coils 6 are energized to effect the separation of the contact members 10 and 11 and, accordingly, to insert the resistor 12 in circuit with the field winding 3 and prevent further raising of the generator voltage. The above cycle of operation is constantly effected at various rates to maintain the generator voltage substantially constant.

Referring to Figs, 2 and 3, the contact member 10 is mounted upon an armature 13 which, in turn, is suitably mounted upon the base 9 by means of spring members 14 and 15. The contact member 11 is directly connected to a supporting member 16, which is adapted to move the contact member 11 in the plane of the surface of contact between the members 10 and 11. The supporting member 16 is mounted between two sets of pins 17 and 18, and 19 and 20, such that the contact member 11 and the supporting member 16 may effect onlya movement of translation parallel to the .plane of the surface of contact between the members 10 and 11. A plate 21, which is attached to the underside of the supporting member 16 in any suitable manner, as by rivets, is provided with projections 22 and 23 that are adapted to engage the pins 18 and 20 for limiting the travel of the supporting member 16 and the contact member 11. The supporting member 16 is provided with a latch 24 for engaging a spring member 25, which is suitably mounted upon the base 9 for initially biasing the contact member 11 and the supporting member 16 in one extreme position, whereby the projection 23 engages the pin 20. The opposite end of the supporting member 16 is provided with a projecting re silientpart 26 which is adapted to engage a suitable rotating, reciprocating or oscillating member for transmittinga movement of translation to the contact member 11. Thus, in the example shown in the drawing, the projectingportion 26 is adapted to be intermittently moved by means of a finger or trip 27 which is directly mounted upon the shaft of the armature 2. It is to be understood, however, that the supporting member 16 maybe given a transitory movement by any other suitable rotating or reciprocating part of the automobile.

From the above description, it will be noted that the contact member 10, which is mounted on the armature 13, is moved perpendicular to the surface of contact of the members 10 and 11 by means of the coils 6 for selectively controlling the excitation of the generator 1, and that the constant rotation of the armature shaft effects a reciprocatory movement of the contact member 11 in the plane of the surface of contact between the members 10 and 11 for keeping the contact members in good condition.

Modifications in the system, and in the arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, means for moving one of said contact members perpendicularly to the surface of contact of said members, and a co-operating spring and cam actuating means for moving the second contact member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members.

2. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, means comprising an electromagnet for moving one of said contact members perpendicularly to the surface of contact of said members, a spring member acting upon the second contact member, and means comprising a constantly rotating member for acting upon said spring member to move the second contact member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members.

3. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, means for resiliently mounting one of said contact members, an electromagnet for moving the resiliently mounted contact perpendicularly to the surface of contact, intermittently operative means for moving the second contact member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members, and a spring member for returning the second contact member to its initial position when moved by said intermittently operative means.

4. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, means for operating one of said members in a plane perpendicular to the surface of contact of said contact members,

and a co-operating spring and cam actuating means for operating the second contact member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members.

5. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for operating one of said members in a plane perpendicular to the surface of contact of said members, a continuously moving cam shaft for moving the second contact member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members, and means for biasing the second contact member to its initial position.

6. In a contact device, a pair of contact members, means for automatically moving 10 said members into and out of engagement with each other, under predetermined conditions, and a co-operating spring and cam actuating means for moving one of said members relative to the other member in the plane of the surface of contact of said members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of Dec FRANCIS H. PATTEN 

